Decor & Renovation

Ask a designer: Can you layer carpets?

Q:I don't want to get rid of the wall-to-wall carpeting in my living room (it's only three years old), but I'd love to introduce some pattern on the floor. Can I lay a Persian rug on top of the mushroom-coloured broadloom? -
Justine C., Windsor, Ont.

A: You most certainly can place a rug over
wall-to-wall carpet. Think of the mushroom-coloured broadloom as a neutral background for your area rug. Just be sure that the size of the rug you choose is proportionate to the room and its furniture. Aim for a large rug that leaves a 20-inch border between the rug and the baseboards. At the very least, the front legs of
all of the furnishings should sit on the Persian. Keep in mind, this layering approach works better on a lower-pile or looped carpet than it does on longer shag carpeting.